Dad's on a Hunting Trip and He Hasn't Been Home in a Few Days

From the beginning, Supernatural looked like X-Files hits the road, the show even got the Scully and Mulder reference out of the way early. So without our tax money at their disposal, the protagonists Sam and Dean had to rely mostly on charm to get the locals to open up about the strange occurrences they saw. The show’s blend of shock and awe baddies with sly wit even landing the show on my Best New Shows of Fall 2005 at number five even though it aired opposite the number one show on that list, My Name Is Earl. In a strange twist of fate, just weeks after Earl moved from Tuesday to Thursday, Supernatural followed.

Supernatural followed the X-Files ethos of freak of the week all along searching for the big bad. The freak of the week tended to be hit or miss, seriously, killer paintings. They did deal with a lot of high profile baddies including Bloody Mary and The Hook-Man lore. Though they should have stayed away from vampires as Buffy taught us, they deserved their own show.

The big bad on the other hand started out cool, but seemed to sputter out at the end. The cool thing about the first episode was the duel attack on Sam’s mom twenty-one years ago as she is set on fire on the ceiling at the beginning and ending with his girlfriend getting the same treatment. Most of the first half of the season was devoted to hunting down their dad and we learn nothing about the demon in question. Even when we are introduced to the big bad’s henchman, in form of a chick, we still don’t learn anything about it or why it was targeting Sam. In fact I still don’t know if we learned anything about it in the finale either.

The biggest problem with the show is how the characters just disappear after they have been uses. Except for daddy and the evil chick, played by Carol Vessey’s sister in a butch haircut, we never saw anyone more than once. Even all of dad’s contacts came and went after one episode, and for a solitary man, he sure had a lot of contacts, old dude, physic black chick, hillbilly dude, corporate guy. Then without warning, they introduced another bad guy who seemed to be more important than the chick, but then died the next episode. The big twist being that both turned out to be the big bad’s kids. Not that we would even care since we barely met him

Almost as bad is how Sam kept on getting new powers throughout the season. First he starts having visions ala Cordelia on Angel. Then more in explicatively out of nowhere he get the power of telekinesis. Um, yeah, okay. The strange part of the latter being they basically abandoned that idea after two episodes and only mentioned it in the finale. Then in finale, which was one of the most boring season finales ever, not only do we not learn anything, we are left with a cliffhanger as the big bad t-bones the family’s car and the last images are of the carnage.

When I first drew up my Fantasy CW Television Schedule, Supernatural made the cut, but after a lackluster ending, I’m not sure if I have a spot on it anymore. If it makes it on the official CW schedule, hopefully it doesn’t take the spot of something more deserving like Veronica Mars or Everwood.

Supernatural 1.x gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

Big Head Barry and High Pitch Kobe

When the Boston Red Sox finally won the World Series a couple years back many assumed that the curse of the Bambino had been broken. But it looks like the Babe didn’t give up on haunting the team that traded him so many years before, he just turned his attention to, you guessed it, everyone’s favorite oversized dome. It coincidentally all started right after the Sox won as Barry Bonds had to undergo surgery that kept him out of most of last season. Then after starting to heat up this season, and coming within two round trippers of the Babe, Bond’s Giant Head swelled up just a little more after taking a foul ball during batting practice yesterday. God bless justice.

Then to add insult to injury, Phillies picture Cory Lidle became the first of hopefully many current big leaders to question Bond’s legitimacy:

“I don't think it's legitimate. What he could have done without performance-enhancing drugs - which he hasn't been proven guilty of (using), which I'm not buying - you can maybe take what he had done in his prime, before his head started growing at an enormous rate, and just make those projections. Say that, ‘This is what he could have done.’ Maybe it's 550 home runs. I don't know. It definitely wouldn't have been anything close to 700. I've never met him, I don't know him. I know what I've heard. I've heard a lot of things where he doesn't treat people very well. That doesn't sit well with me. The reason I'm not scared to speak out is - I don't think he's a dumb person - basically, he had decisions to make, whether he wanted to treat people good or treat people bad. Whether he wanted to pump drugs into his body or stay clean. I believe he chose the (former). There are consequences in every decision. He's a grown-up. He's got to live with those consequences. I don't feel sorry for him. I don't want to see him break records. If he breaks them, it will be a shame, because I think when all is said and done, the truth will come out. It hasn't yet, but I think if he was in front of a jury, and there had to be a verdict, I think the verdict might be - with everything that I heard was in that book - I think the verdict might be guilty. It's sad. I'm not a player-hater. I like to see players get paid as much as they can. But without friggin' cheating. The worst part of it all, the young guys - the guys in the minor leagues, and worse than that, high school, and college - they already know they don't have a chance. If someone can't hit 15 home runs in college, how do they expect to take somebody's job in the big leagues who's hitting 50 home runs? They start feeling this pressure of doing that stuff, and it really is a problem. It's selfish for those guys who did it... to know what the chain reaction was to keep doing it.”

As much as I loved that, remind me again who Cory Lidle is.


Then there my next favorite athlete embarrassed himself even more the Big Head. I’m sure we have all scene the infamous clothline, well at least those of us that watch at least an hour of ESPN everyday. But what came next was even more entertaining with Raja Bell calling Kobe Bryant pompous. Classic, then to add to things, check out Kobe’s response, which would have be a good retort had he not sounding like a member of Howard Stern’s Wack Pack:

Toss Up: Lost vs Veronica Mars week 15

Before I get into this week’s Toss Up, I'd like to mention a very special offer, as I type this, Amazon is offering copies of the first season of Veronica Mars for half price. So if you are a fan and have been dragging your feet in buying the set or like me, who tends not to buy TV DVD’s while the show is still on the air, or if you haven’t seen the show and have been wondering what the fuss is about and want to see the show from the beginning, now is the time to pick up the set because you are most likely not going to see this set this low. And maybe if the powers that be at the CW see its rank shoot up (it’s currently at #16), it may help season three chances. Now Amazon is known for switching prices without warning from week to week so I suggest you get the set now if it is still at the price of $30, which is just pennies more than what you can but the set used. And as an added bonus, if you use the link below, I get a commission from the purchase.




Now on to the important things, if there is one thing I have learned from Lost (download the latest episode Two for the Road) it that if you drink and drive, you will be shot. So let that be a lesson to you kiddies out there reading. And now on to this week’s Toss Up:


Creepier Dude
Lost: Not-Henry Gale
Veronica Mars: Not so Lucky
Winner: Lost


Parental Forgiveness
Lost: Ana Lucia’s mom seems to forgive her for killing the dude that made her miscarriage.
Veronica Mars: Keith seems to forgive all of Veronica’s transgressions that were brought up at the trial.
Winner: Veronica Mars


Post-Gun Wielding Job
Lost: Ana Lucia is a wand waver after resigning from the force.
Veronica Mars: Not so Lucky gets a job as a janitor.
Winner: Veronica Mars


Gets Off
Lost: Ana Lucia gets away with killing the previously mention baby killer.
Veronica Mars: Aaron Echolls is acquitted on all charges.
Winner: Veronica Mars


Question
Lost: “They didn’t have Say Anything in Baghdad?”
Veronica Mars: “How is Amber going to know she’s a (expletive deleted)?”
Winner: Lost


Look
Lost: Sawyer in his afterglow.
Veronica Mars: Sheriff Lamb finding out Veronica has VD.
Winner: Veronica Mars


MIA
Lost: I thought that was Claire that Jack’s dad went to see, but alas, it was just some random Australian chick.
Veronica Mars: Really, how am I supposed to go without Dick for a whole week? (Ducky, you are not allowed to comment on this)
Winner: Lost


If You Have Sex…
Lost: You will die.
Veronica Mars: You will contract Le Clap and/or die.
Winner: Well everyone loses


They Met Before
Lost: Ana Lucia and Jack’s dad
Veronica Mars: Veronica and… You. (also know as the dude with Beaver)
Winner: Lost


Shootout
Lost: Michael kills Ana Lucia and Libby(?).
Veronica Mars: Random security guard takes down Lucky.
Winner: Lost


Harebrain Theory
Lost: Jack and Claire are siblings.
Veronica Mars: Lamb is behind the bus crash.
Winner: We’ll just have to wait and see


Lost actually pulls off the rare win this week with its shocking ending. And I might as well start at the end. So on the surface, it looks like Michael has already made contact with The Others, contrary what he told the rest of the tribe, and that there may be a trade in place if he killed Ana Lucia and rescued not-Henry then he could be reunited with his son. And it looks like the tailies will be down to two as Libby got caught in the crosshairs.

The other big new of the episode is that Ana Lucia was in Australia after being picked up by Jack’s dad in, presumably, LAX. And as I stated in the Toss Up, I fully expect that the woman he harassed to turn out to be Claire’s mother, making Jack an uncle. And with parental issues continually turning up, I’m beginning to wonder if this is going to turn out to be an X-Files situation where the parents were the ones that submitted their kids for this experiment. Well that’s assuming we will ever learn what is truly behind the island.


Then on Veronica Mars we were sent on a roller coaster ride all episode going from happy go lucky scenes that quickly come down in shock in awn conclusions. Again starting at the end, it’s not that surprising that Aaron Echolls got off. Something tells me that he may end up dead in the near future. But the only thing with that, would anyone care to hunt down the real killers if that did happen? Then there was the trial itself, and I’m beginning to think that Veronica doesn’t really have Le Clap and that her doctor was on the Echolls/Not-Kendall payroll. But that was a great look from Lamb, when this tidbit came out.

Then back to this season’s major theme, Officer Mahoney is looking guiltier and guiltier which leads me to believe that it is not him behind the bus crash because that’s too obvious. Plus an understandable answer to why he skipped town is because they just found a bomb under his car. I may do the same with my family if such thing happened and I had a private jet. I also assumed the Michael Jackson tendencies of the mayor were just coincidental to throw us off the trail, but the pervert comment really hurt my case.

Then next week we will finally find out who was behind the bus crash. And now for my personal prediction: Sheriff Lamb. He’s has always been quick to close the case prematurely whether it be with the bus driver or Terrence Cook. He’s even reluctantly followed Keith’s Woody theory even though Woody can destroy him. But no matter who it is, I’m sure it will be great as the preview had more excitement that most shows have in an hour. And it looks like we will finally see the exiled Duncan as I can’t remember that spot he was in being from a past scene. I remember Rob Thomas saying that they blew the back for the finale and that it would be spanning continents. Although the last time I checked Mexico was on the same continent as Neptune, unless he went further south. Or we may go to Europe, specifically Paris. Is it Tuesday yet? Well until then make sure you check out my photo blog, Scooter McGavin Takes Pictures, for exclusive pictures like the one to the right from next week's graduation during the finale.

Then on Lost next week we will finally find out, wait this is Lost, they only ask more questions, not answer them. And it looks as if we will never find out who called Ana that took her away from Jack at the bar. Oh well. But it should be interesting to see the fallout from the bloodbath in the hatch. Oh, and from the previews, it looks like the tailies may be down to one when Mr. Eko looks like he takes a fall of a cliff.

Scooter's Addition - A couple weeks ago there was a rumor going around that Veronica Mars was not going to make it to the CW and I even got a letter from my UPN contact debunking that rumor and I told you not to believe anything until the CW announces it in two weeks. Well I'm going to break my own rule and pass along what seems to be a legit story. TVShowsonDVD.com they have information on the season 2 DVD which will be released on August 15th. The interesting point is that their post states, "the release date is tied to the season 3 premiere on the CW." Now I don't know that much about the site, but the seem fairly reliable and have no reason to lie. And that it was hidden in another post and they weren't posting the information to break the story so this puts my mind a little more at ease as we head to the CW's offical announcement. Clink on the link for more information and an addition defending their posting of the news.

If I Keep Holding Out Will the Light Shine Through

There has been a lot of hype surrounding the new self titled Pearl Jam album as everyone says it is their best work in over a decade. Well that really says much since it can’t be hard to be better than the bland rock they have been churning starting with the release of No Code. But with that said, this album is indeed better than anything they have released during that time frame, but still is no way near as good as their first three albums.

The album is the band’s first in four years and the rest did do them good as there seems to be a spring back in their step, or it could also have been their time on the Vote for Change Tour lit a match underneath them, as sharing a stage with Bruce Springsteen can definitely have a positive effect on musicians. The album starts off with the twin guitar assault by Stone Gossard and Mike McCready on Life Wasted and the you should have downloaded it when it was free on the band’s website World Wide Suicide which roar with ferocity that will undoubtedly will become a highlight of their live shows. Then Comotose is fast romp that is the closest the band has gotten to puck yet.

But what made Pearl Jam great is their diversity, yeah, they rocked, but were still able to slow things down, go acoustic, and make some eerily good music too. Marker in the Sand effortlessly switches from an angst fill verse to a mellower chorus with ease. The back to back Parachutes and Unemployable both sound like something from the British Invasion. The conclusion on Wasted Reprise sounds like something that could have come off their collaboration with Neil Young on Mirror Ball. The somber Come Back is their most heart wrenching song ever not named Betterman. Then the closer is the very moody Inside Job that builds to a eerie conclusion that grabs your attention for all of it’s seven minutes.

The stories are more poignant as ever even as Eddie Vedder’s delivery seems to be more indecipherable as ever. World Wide Suicide is a full on assault on the Bush administration. Unemployable follows a dude just issued his pink slip on his journey on trying to get another job. But the one that hits closest to home, and happens to be the closest to the Pearl Jam of old, is on Army Reserve, an elegy to the wives and children of those serving in our armed forces today. Hopefully this album singles an upswing the band will be on for years to come.

Song to Download - Come Back

Pearl Jam gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

I’m Embarrassed to Say the Rest Is Rock n Roll Cliché

Back in the mid-nineties, I was totally on the Jewel bandwagon. Even though the radio edits of the hits were better than the original, I still loved the coffee shop intimacy of her first album, Pieces of You. Spirit the polished the edges but keep the intensity of her debut. But that’s where my love affair with Jewel died down. She seemed to lose something on This Way and her attempt at dance music on 0304 was laughable at best. Now Jewel is back to her more acoustic roots on Goodbye Alice in Wonderland.

The problem with going back to her roots is that it’s been over a decade since she was living in her car back in Alaska. The album finds her bitter at fame and even at one point on the album on the title track says she’s “embarrassed to say the rest is Rock n Roll Cliché. I hit the bottom when I reached the top.” It’s almost as if she’s in on the joke. She then rails against the epicenter of it all, Los Angeles, on Satellite, but the bouncy sarcastic sounds like it’s a leftover from her last album.

Even when Jewel tries to expand, it just doesn’t feel like right. The Shawn Mullins type verse talking on Good Day just ruins what could have been the best song on the album. Then on Words Get in the Way, she goes for a more nasally sound that is more annoying than her usual soothing voice. The too much information Stephenville, TX is her attempt at country, which wouldn’t have been too bad if her delivery of the already dry lyrics was more interesting. Last Dance Rodeo is the closest she comes on this album to anything that would be good enough to be included on her first two albums, but the song still seems to go long. Unfortunately it is too late to ask for the old Jewel back because she is too far gone.

Song to Download - Last Dance Rodeo

Goodbye Alice in Wonderland gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

I Fart in Your General Direction

For this month’s induction to the Scooter Hall of Fame I picked one of the crown jewels of my DVD collection. Surprisingly I first watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail while I was in high school. Now when I say I was in high school, I mean I was actually sitting in English Lit class as a learning experience. Not surprisingly, this class was taught by the same teacher who gave away beer mugs, which he tried to convince everyone were milk mugs. Needless to say this was the greatest class I had in my educational career.

But the great thing about Monty Python I that it actually works on an educational level with high brow comedy that the uneducated may not get. There were plenty of references that dealt with obscure British history may not get so while watching it in class we would watch a scene and laugh at it’s sophomoric humor, then the teacher would rewind it and point out the little things that us, the uneducated wouldn’t get, then have a laugh at the deeper meaning.

Yet it is still the silliness that draws people to the Monty Python franchise, and there is plenty of that in the Holy Gail. In addition to the French dude that uttered the title phrase, some of my personal favorite parts are, the Black Knight who wouldn’t die, the Holy Hand Grenade and the Knights Who Say Ni. And as part of the English Lit class, we learned the “Ni” was actually a curse word back in olden times, so for me that added to the humor of the scene.

And unlike virtually every DVD released, all the extras are worth checking out and also boasts what I think is the only movie that offers for your listening pleasure a “Mono soundtrack in glorious old-fashioned mono!” Plus as an added bonus there is “A glorious 24 seconds absolutely free!” although don’t ask me where that is from. There are also there rare audio commentaries that are actually interesting, one with Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones and another with John Cleese, Eric Idle, and Michael Palin. Also there a plenty of great documentaries, three sin-alongs, and a cast directory to keep track of how many characters each actor played. And if you can’t get enough ridiculousness, you can watch the film in Japanese with English Subtitles as they search for the holy sake cup and even a Lego version of the film. No seriously, well at least a scene of them. And there’s even an educational film on to use your coconuts. And really, what else do you need in your life?

2006 NFL Draft Day 2

Yesterday, the Cleveland Browns had a productive day fill major holes in the defense, but not only did they not help the Offensive Line, they actually made things weaker by shipping Jeff Faine out of town. But with their first pick, they made that their prority. Here are some other thoughts on the picks of day two:

4th Round (110 Overall) - Leon Williams (ILB Miami FL) - Romeo Crennel and crew really wanted to focus on the front seven in this draft getting three with their first four picks. Hopefully one or more doesn’t to turn out like a bust like the Courtney Brown era.

4th Round (112 Overall) - Isaac Sowells (OT Indiana) - Finally the Browns fill one of the biggest problems the team has had, the O-Line with picking up the biggest free agent and Sowells is a big dude that should make a solid backup. I still would have liked to see one or more O-Line pickup’s in this draft.

5th Round (145 Overall) - Jerome Harrison (RB Washington State) - Maybe the most interesting pick in the draft for the team, maybe signaling the end of the William Green era, by picking up the Pac 10 leading rusher (you know, the league with Reggie Bush). He was also third in the nation in all purpose yards so he could be the out of the backfield threat that the Browns have been missing. Hopefully this doesn’t mean the end Lee Suggs because I still think he can be something special once he gets healthy.

5th Round (152 Overall) - DeMario Minter (CB Georgia) - One thing I never want to hear on draft day when it comes to my team is “character issues.” So hopefully Minter grows out of that quick and stays away from Green. There may be some shakeups with the backs but with two rookies taken last year, he may be the odd man out.

6th Round (180 Overall) - Lawrence Vickers (FB Colorado) - With Terrelle Smith, who always seems to block for 1000 rushers, Vickers may not see much playing time. Seems to have good hands so may make for a good goaline back or extra TE.

6th Round (181 Overall) - Babatunde Oshinowo (DT Stanford) - A true nose tackle and yet another front 7 pick. I’m always a big fan of smart player, so you can go too wrong with a Sanford grad and the dude can fill some holes.

7th Round (222 Overall) - Justin Hamilton (S Virginia Tech) - Another addition to what seems to be an already crowded defensive back pool. Could be a throw away pick. ESPN didn’t even have anything on this guy and that’s never a good thing.


Overall, I’m still giving the Browns a B. They didn’t focus on the O-Line like I hoped. I would have also like them to pick up another Quarterback because I’m still weary of the Dilfer/Frye combination and an extra one on the bench can never hurt. But anyways. Is it August yet?

2006 NFL Draft Day 1

It looks like day one of the NFL draft is over for the Cleveland Browns barring a trade. But they were busy on the phones earlier making them. First they conned the Baltimore Ravens in trading up one spot to get and extra late round pick, a sixth. Obviously the Browns still got what they wanted otherwise they wouldn’t have traded with them. Although a couple years ago, the Browns did the exact opposite to get Kellen Winslow but gave up a second rounder instead just show how bad that decision was.

Then later the Browns got rid of yet another first rounder from the Butch Davis era getting rid of Jeff Faine and their second round pick (43 overall) for the New Orleans Saints second (34 overall). So basically they gave up the guy to move up eleventh pick. I think they should have waited for more, either giving up a third or lower or had the Saints throw in and extra late rounder. But in the end they got rid of another Butch Davis bust, no if only they can unload William Green and Winslow. Now lets look at this years draft:

1st Round (13 Overall) - Kamerion Wimbley (DE Florida State) - A great decision, much better chose than the dude the Ravens move up to get, then the Browns stockpile a late round pick to fill holes. The front seven was one of the bigger questions going into the draft so it’s good to see the Browns made it a priority.

2nd Round (34 Overall) - D'Qwell Jackson (ILB Maryland) - Again a good pick, but not sure if giving up Faine to get this guy will be worth it because the depth in the O-Line is another big question mark. But this guy is versatile, which is what you need in the 3-4. If Faine continues his career the way it has gone, on the IR, this could turn out to be a smart move.

3 Round (78 Overall) - Travis Wilson (WR-Oklahoma) Somewhat of an odd pick, but could give some insite on how Brawlon Edwards rehab is going. Was hoping the Browns would deepen the O-Line with this pick, but this was one of the top wide receivers in the draft and may be a steal in the third. Also the guy could be a great addition to special teams.


Looking to tomorrow, the obvious targets are offensive lineman and with two picks in both the four, fifth and sixth rounds. For the first day, I give the Browns a B. Check back tomorrow for the second day thoughts of the Browns and with seven picks there should be a lot to discuss.

Oh Mary Don't You Weep

Tribute and cover albums are tricky, usually an artist that gets such a treatment are already legend so it’s a heavy burden to try to live up to such greatness. And when it comes down to it, who want to hear flash in the pan groups try to recreate Jimi Hendrix songs when you can just go out and get The Ultimate Experience for the same price. Even with establish artists such as Rod Stewart or the recent collaboration between Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs (see my review - Who Knows Where the Time Goes), I would much rather spend my money on the originals. But on occasions, such tributes work like two years ago when Eric Clapton released a whole album of Robert Johnson tunes. Now you can Bruce Springsteen to that short list.

We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions is full of songs that were written or at one time recorded by the album’s namesake Pete, and for those who initially though Bob, please smack yourself upside your head for me (Plus his last name is spelled Seger). To recreate the classic American folk music, Springsteen recruited about fifteen musicians and vocalist whom then brought along instruments from tubas to banjos to accordions to washboards and of course Springsteen provide the harmonica himself. All of them packed themselves into Springsteen’s New Jersey home over three days.

Springsteen is no stranger to folk music himself releasing acoustic classics like Nebraska and The Ghost of Tom Joad, but where those albums are somber affairs about the darker sides of the American tradition, The Seeger Sessions play more like a party that still resonates in twenty-first century America, whether that be in the north or south, red or blue. Pay Me My Money down can get anyone up and dancing and opener Old Dan Tucker, where Springsteen growls like Tom Waite, is so dirty it’s good.

That doesn’t mean the guy behind the Vote for Change Tour shy away from Seeger’s political side. On Mrs. McGrath, the line, “All the foreign wars, I do proclaim live on blood and mother’s pain” is more poignant today than when Pete Seeger sang it or when it was written in the nineteenth century in Ireland. Then there is the title track, which also became the theme song during the civil rights era and Eyes on the Prize, another protest anthem, that’s name which has also become rooted in civil right.

Also include here are children songs that I probably haven’t heard since before I started school like Erie Canal and John Henry. If there is a problem I could find here is that just over an hour, it may be a little too long. He maybe should have kept three or four songs off and saved them for what I hope will be a second volume to the Seeger Sessions.

Song to Download - Pay Me My Money Down

We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

This Time Please Someone Come and Rescue Me

Rihanna burst onto the scene last summer with the ubiquitous club hit, Pon de Replay. After that, none of her singles caught fire and it looked as if you would to the one hit wonder wing of the Hall of Fame. Luckily she didn’t give up because with a little help from Soft Cell she looks like she will pull off the rare feat of have the summer anthem in consecutive. But the question is, will the album, A Girl Like Me, fall into obscurity much like here debut did as everyone seemed to download the hit single as opposed to the whole album?

To keep that from happening, her record company even withheld S.O.S. from the major downloading services in hopes that people would buy the album instead of the single when it came out. And surprisingly A Girl Like Me isn’t absolutely horrible. The album eases you with the 80’s influenced smash hit and I wonder if the Tainted Love sample isn’t the only 80’s thing about that song and the lyrics I’ll be you “Take on me, take me on” are based on uber-80’s anthems by A-Ha (she even says the band's name in the song). The next song, Kisses Don’t Lie, even has an 80’s touch with The Clash lyrics asking “Should I stay or should I go?” That is followed by the strong, piano and strings based Unfaithful a song about, you guessed it, being unfaithful. And even when the song goes over the top when she suggests, to keep him from hurting, to “take a gun and put it to his head” it just makes it that much more entertaining, although sadly she decides she “don’t wanna be a murderer.” Oh well.

But the album quickly goes into some clichés from there with We Ride. Personally I rather have my girls sugar and spice and the such and not hear her say “When we ride we ride, it's ‘til the day we die.” I really don’t want my girl (another 80’s reference alert) going down in a blaze of glory. Have we leaned nothing from When Keeping it Real Goes Wrong? This get back on track with the slow reggae jam Dem Haters with help with some dude named Dwane Husbands. Sean Paul shows up later Break it Off, which is better than anything on his latest effort unfortunately the beat isn’t that good.

Everything else on the album is pretty much hit or miss, the acoustic guitar in Final Goodbye sounds like something Dan Fogelberg, which actually isn't a bad thing. P.S. (I’m Still Not Over You) is as cheesy as the title would suggest. The album caps off with a remix of the failed single off Rihanna’s last album, If It’s Lovin’ That You want with a beat stolen from another rap song that I can’t quite pinpoint no matter how long I play the song and and a rap from Cory Gunz who may or may not be related to Peter Gunz who was last scene being sued by Steely Dan for lifting there hook for the great Uptown Baby. So think twice before Download S.O.S. and maybe give the whole album a chance.

Song to Download - S.O.S. (you think I was going to suggest something else?)

A Girl Like Me gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

Toss Up: Lost vs Veronica Mars week 14 2/3

Clips show on Lost tonight (Veronica Mars really need to utilize this with all their multiple storylines) so another early Toss Up this week and hopefully everyone caught Veronica Mars last night as tonight in its usual spot there isn’t a repeat instead an America’s Next Top Model recap. Although if you did miss it, most markets repeat it on the weekend so check your local listings (7:00 Sunday is you are in Northeast Ohio). And on the show, we inch closer to finding out who was behind the bus crash even as the suspect list grows.

This episode lend more credence to my first suspect, that the crash was intended to send a message to Woody via Gia with her stacker. And the interplay between her and Veronica in their first scene together was priceless, Gia's best performance of the season this episode. This led to the surprise return of Deputy Leo who was following Gia per request of Leo. I want to say it was nice to see him as I much rather had V end up with him over Duncan or Logan, but he seemed a little slimy tonight almost as if he was more acting like his character on Modern Men rather than the ol’ Deputy we knew and loved. And speaking of people who I want to see end up with Ronnie, I was sad to see her turn down Dick at the not-prom. Who doesn’t want to see her in an “I (Heart) Dick” shirt? Oh, just me, nevermind then.

And she wasn’t the only chick to turn down Dick as word has gotten out on Dick and could find a date to alterna-prom. You know you have a bad reputation at your school when you’re a senior and you can’t even score a freshman date. And no matter how much he and his hog tried, he couldn’t get to rekindle the Madison relationship. But at least that led to V finally mentioned her relationship with the sheriff. “You mean took it on the Lamb. Because I can't imagine what that's like, can you, being on the Lamb?” Classic. I wonder if the Shelly Dick went after looking down Ronnie’s dress was the infamous Shelly Pomroy or if Rob Thomas threw her name in there just because of this conversation just to spite me. And the scene in the elevator totally trumped any awkward comedy on The Office and it was great how the capped it off with switched at birth Madison and Mac in unison saying “thank God.”

But the big new this episode is that Veronica seemed to come down with the case of Le Clap. Way to start off the episode. Which begs the question, where did Duncan get it? Did the Manning family favorite Lucky get to Meg before Duncan, and if so could baby Lilly not be a Kane after all? Or did Duncan actually hook up with Kendall even though Rob Thomas specially said it didn’t happen during the Veronica Mars Press Day. Or is it possible that someone other that Duncan got themselves a piece at the infamous Shelly Pomroy two years ago?

Now unto the season arc with Officer Mahoney. At the beginning of the episode, it looked like the theory that Woody was have some extra innings activities with the young boys in Neptune when a half naked hooker passed out in his hotel room. But by the end of the episode it seemed like that was what not so Lucky was going to tell Keith before Lamb interrupted. I’m really hoping it is something else because, if it is true, that would have the two major reveals for the two seasons to be statutory rapist and that’s creepier than not-Henry Gale. And what happened to not so Lucky, the only other time we have seen him, it looked like you typical 09’er tool, but this week he seemed a little autistic. And what was with him saying hi to Veronica and she saying hi back to him? They’ve only met once, last summer, but are on a first name basis.

Something also seems fishy with the outing of Terrence Cook. Why now? Something tells me that it wasn’t the Dumas family that leaked this story. That leaves the only people to know about it, Woody, Keith, and the Fitzpatrick’s. The Fitzpatrick’s would rather have the money than rat him out because they wouldn’t get it if he loses his endorsements. It’s not in Keith’s character to sell Terrence up the river to get back out Woody for throwing him under the bus. So that leaves Woody who wants to keep his name off the front page after all the bad news he’s gotten lately.

And also some who seems to be up to something, I’m beginning to think not-Kendall hooking up with Logan isn’t he’s good in the sack. Why would anyone hook up with a dude who was on trial for murder along with his famous dad who had his own murder trial? This has to be another of her and the Fitzpatrick’s long con, but why? I’m also beginning to think that Big Dick didn’t marry her to be just a trophy wife and was may just be a business arrangement. Remember he didn’t care that much that she was cheating on him, instead cared more that the SEC might be stopping by, which they promptly did. And I wonder if Big Dick, in fact knew about the insurance policy that was taken out on his spawn.

Next week we get the second to last episode of the season and the trial of the century. Something tells me in the end, a deal will be copped and we will see a free Aaron Echolls sometime next season. It looks that the charges related to the Lilly Kane murder will be dropped completely tanks to the plated Oscar and there must be something that helps Aaron in Cliff’s briefcase that we now know was stolen by Aaron’s former cellmate. And don’t mistake not so Lucky’s gun totting bit as your average “very special episode of One Tree Hill” type school shooting. No it a much worse problem with our servicemen coming back a tour of duty and are not able to function in society anymore. Then add whatever Woody did to him and it inevitable was going to turn explosive. And just a heads up, according to the TV Guide, no Veronica Mars repeat again next Wednesday so make sure you see it on Tuesday.

Then on Lost we finally get Michael back in the tribe as he tries to get everyone to mount up to take on the Others setting up the second to last Toss Up of the season, although there will most likely be a season long Toss Up at the end of the season though. So look out for the Toss Up on next Thursday. And in other Lost news, Ana Lucia has chosen to go to jail for five day due to a drunk driving conviction rather than serve 240 hours community service. Seriously, who does this? All you have to do is film a PSA for anti drunk driving and have it shown 240 times and that covers it. And there is something wrong that getting convicted for drunk driving only comes with a five day sentence. That really isn’t much of a deterrent.

Now here is the official press release for next week's Veronica Mars:


AS AARON ECHOLLS' TRIAL COMES TO AN END,
TENSIONS RISE AS A VERDICT IS ABOUT TO BE DELIVERED,
ON "VERONICA MARS," TUESDAY, MAY 2 ON UPN

Harry Hamlin ("L.A. Law") Returns As Aaron Echolls;
And Steve Guttenberg ("The Poseidon Adventure") Returns
As Mayor Woody Goodman

"Happy Go Lucky" -- As Aaron Echolls' (guest star Harry Hamlin) trial is about to conclude, tensions rise as Veronica, Keith and Logan take the witness stand to testify against him, on VERONICA MARS, Tuesday, May 2 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on UPN. Steve Gomer directed the episode from a script written by Diane Ruggiero.

Meanwhile, after Veronica finds a suspicious e-mail in Woody's (guest star Steve Guttenberg) computer, Keith turns to Sheriff Lamb with evidence to arrest Woody, but Lamb refuses, believing that Keith is trying to turn him into a laughing stock. Also, to everyone's surprise, Neptune High's janitor Lucky brings a gun into school with the intent to find Gia.

You Were No Angel and I Was No Sin

Over a decade ago, The Goo Goo Dolls came to prominence with what many though would be a one hit wonder, Name. But since then the Goos have become the kings of the power balled (well Nickelback may have something to say about that) with lighter inducing anthems like Iris, Black Balloon, and Here Is Gone. Now the band is back with a new album, Let Love In, with help from producer Glen Ballard, best known for launching Alanis Morissette's career, but also ruined albums by Aerosmith and Dave Matthews Band.

Ballard does bring his signature slosh to sleep inducing songs like the title track and Can’t Let it Go and does nothing to come close in quality of pervious hits. In fact the best songs on the album are ones that have been all over the radio for the past year, the Supertramp cover, Give a Little Bit that was on the band’s recent live album and the Christmas tune Better Days. The best new song of the set, and the only one that could possible get people to flick their Bic’s is the album closer Become that comes closest to the intensity that had on Iris, but still fall a little short.

The worst part of the album is they actually let bassist, Robbie Gordon to sing two songs Listen and Strange Love. The dude raspy voice makes Biz Markie sound like a opera singer but at least the Biz was in on the joke as I’m not sure Robbie and band have realized how bad he sounds. There is a good reason why none of the songs he’s sung are released as single. But on the upside it seems like the band has gotton more socially conscience starting with choosing a cover song like Give a Little Bit which carried over to the Christmas themed Better Days about looking out for the children and the universal theme that should be utilized during the holidays, and everyday for that matter, forgiveness. Now if their music could grow like their lyrics, this album could have been a lot better.

Song to Download - Better Days

Let Love In gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

We on Award Tour - 2005 MTV Movie Awards Nominations

Much like the station’s other marquee awards show, the MTV Movie Awards has been in a creative downswing this decade. But unlike the VMA’s, it’s easy to pinpoint were the Movie Awards went wrong, that is when MTV started making movies of there own and the awards show became more of a promotional vehicle for them and nominating movies that don’t deserve it, case in point this year, Dukes of Hazzard. It was a critical and commercial flop yet it garnished multiple nods. The show can save itself with a good host (one hadn’t been named of this post) and a couple good Vince Vaughn skits, but I won’t be holding my breathe, yet I still be watching on June 8th like the MTV lapdog that I am. No musical guest announced yet, but you can vote here. Interestingly enough, there are no gender specific categories this year, which means fewer time spent on handing out awards, and that’s always a good thing. Now on to the nominees:


BEST MOVIE
The 40-Year Old Virgin
Batman Begins
King Kong
Sin City
Wedding Crashers

Who Will Win: King Kong
Who I Voted For: Wedding Crashers

This comes down to which group of nerds will spend the most time voting. The comic book nerds will split their vote between Batman and Sin City, but in the end the Peter Jackson nerd will overpower the lives with his parents nerd to win. Too bad there isn’t a write in vote for the Lucas nerd. As the agro-pseudo-frat boy, I went with the dumb comedy. Oddly enough no chick flicks considering MTV is now run by fourteen year old girls.


BEST PERFORMANCE
Joaquin Phoenix - Walk the Line
Jake Gyllenhaal - Brokeback Mountain
Rachel McAdams - Red Eye
Steve Carell - The 40-Year Old Virgin
Terrence Howard - Hustle and Flow
Reese Witherspoon - Walk the Line

Who Will Win: Jake Gyllenhall
Who I Voted For: Rachel McAdams

The hardest catergory and weirdest considering Gyllenhall got the nod over Heath Ledger while both Cash’s got one. McAdams is the dark horse because she did sweep the awards last year and her performance here was better than those movies.


BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE
Owen Wilson - Wedding Crashers
Adam Sandler - The Longest Yard
Steve Carell - The 40-Year Old Virgin
Tyler Perry - Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion
Vince Vaughn - Wedding Crashers

Who Will Win: Steve Carell
Who I Voted For: Vince Vaughn

Sadly Wilson will steal Vaughn’s vote leaving the less funny Carell with the popcorn. Remember when only Sandler or Jim Carey won this award? Ah, the good ol’ days.


BEST ON-SCREEN TEAM
Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen & Romany Malco - The 40-Year Old Virgin
Johnny Knoxville, Seann William Scott & Jessica Simpson - The Dukes of Hazzard
Jessica Alba, Ioan Gruffudd, Chris Evans & Michael Chiklis - Fantastic Four
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson & Rupert Grint - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Vince Vaughn & Owen Wilson - Wedding Crashers

Who Will Win: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Who I Voted For: Wedding Crashers

This category really need to be retired but won’t because it mean more nominations for real actors while better categories like Best Action Sequence and Best CGI Character get dumped.


BEST VILLAIN
Cillian Murphy - Batman Begins
Hayden Christensen - Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Ralph Fiennes - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Tilda Swinton - The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Tobin Bell - Saw II

Who Will Win: Tobin Bell
Who I Voted For: Cillian Murphy

They totally got this catergory messed up; they have the right actors, but wrong movies. Fiennes should have gotten the nod for Batman Begins because Murphy’s was basically just a bit role and was much scarier in Red Eye and my vote was more for that movie than Batman. Oh and this category is brought to you by The DaVinci Code. No seriously, it is. Almost as silly as he Neutrogena Best Hero Award


BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE
Andre “3000” Benjamin - Four Brothers
Isla Fisher - Wedding Crashers
Nelly - The Longest Yard
Jennifer Carpenter - The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Romany Malco - The 40-Year Old Virgin
Taraji P. Henson - Hustle & Flow

Who Will Win: Andre “3000” Benjamin
Who I Voted For: Isla Fisher

Imagine how worst this category would have been if it was still two gender specific ones. As is, it’s still a toss up between people we will forget about by next year, that if you even know who they are now.


BEST HERO
Christian Bale - Batman Begins
Jessica Alba - Fantastic Four
Daniel Radcliffe - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Kate Beckinsale - Underworld: Evolution
Ewan McGregor - Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

Who Will Win: Christian Bale
Who I Voted For: Ewan McGregor

I still hold an outside theory that people will vote for Jessica Alba solely because she’s Jessica Alba, but Batman will be hard to beat no matter who’s under the mask.


SEXIEST PERFORMANCE
Beyoné Knowles - The Pink Panther
Jessica Alba - Sin City
Jessica Simpson - The Dukes of Hazzard
Ziyi Zhang - Memoirs of a Geisha
Rob Schneider - Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo

Who Will Win: Jessica Alba
Who I Voted For: Jessica Alba

This is basically a no contest. If Alba doesn’t win it meand this is fixed worse than a Don King fight.


BEST FIGHT
Kong vs. the Planes - King Kong
Stephen Chow vs. Axe Gang - Kung Fu Hustle
Angelina Jolie vs. Brad Pitt - Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Ewan McGregor vs. Hayden Christensen - Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

Who Will Win: Revenge of the Sith
Who I Voted For: Revenge of the Sith

This is a toss up between Star Wars and Kong, but where Kong has already been done and the lava fight definitely live up to the hype and almost made up for the rest of the sequels.


BEST KISS
Jake Gyllenhaal & Heath Ledger - Brokeback Mountain
Taraji P. Henson & Terrence Howard - Hustle & Flow
Anna Faris & Chris Marquette - Just Friends
Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt - Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Rosario Dawson & Clive Owen - Sin City

Who Will Win: Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Who I Voted For: Sin City

Nothing like tabloid fodder to help fuel a win, not that there is much competition in this field. The only real composition in here is the gay cowboy movie, but the comic book nerds that tend to rule the voting process probably aren’t that open minded.


BEST FRIGHTENED PERFORMANCE
Rachel Nichols - The Amityville Horror
Jennifer Carpenter - The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Derek Richardson - Hostel
Paris Hilton - House of Wax
Dakota Fanning - War of the Worlds

Who Will Win: Dakota Fanning
Who I Voted For: Rachel Nichols

This is really disturbing as I though Hilton was descending from the pop culture lexicon, yet here she is with an acting nomination. Unless it is for Best Inanimate Object, she should be nominated for anything. And since it’s expected of me, I’ll go ahead and say it, that Hilton girl gives me nightmare. There, happy? Not so coincidentally, I think House of Wax was produced by MTV. Anyways I think Fanning won last year, but I indeed went with the hottest chick here. Where is Rachel McAdams anyways?